Atlanta mayoral candidates qualify for race

Felicia Moore and Kasim Reed officially qualify for Atlanta mayoral race

The candidates focused on how they'll combat crime in the city. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms previously announced she would not seek another term.

Candidates in the race to become Atlanta's next mayor officially qualified Tuesday morning. Supporters of two candidates confronted each other outside Atlanta City Hall.

Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore and former mayor Kasim Reed addressed their supporters, whose competing chants rang out before either emerged from inside city hall. Atlanta City Councilman Andre Dickens, Post 3 at-Large, officially filed Tuesday afternoon also jabbing at his campaign rivals.

There was a war of words Tuesday morning when Moore and Reed filed paperwork within an hour of each other. Moore emerged from Atlanta City Hall shortly after qualifying to a verbal clash of supporters. Chants from Reed's supporters tried to drown out Moore's comments, which criticized Reed's campaign.

"This race does not have to be a disrespectful race," Moore said. "My people are going to be respectful of every candidate in this race."

Moore highlighted her 20 years as an elected official the city's need for an ethical leader. Moore has mentioned several ideas she'd implement as mayor to address increasing crime, including keeping the downtown jail and adding sworn administrators to patrols.

One-on-one with Atlanta City Council President, Mayoral Candidate Felicia Moore

FOX 5 Atlanta's series of interviews with mayoral candidates continues. Felicia Moore, Atlanta City Council President, said she plans to take an all-hands-on-deck approach to fight crime.

Reed has touted his success as Mayor with battling crime in Atlanta. He's plagued by legal troubles surrounding his former administration. The FOX 5 I-Team learned the mayoral candidate is seemingly under FBI investigation for old campaign donations he spent.

Reed's name never appears in a judge's federal ruling in a wire fraud case, but the I-Team found, after reviewing the original ruling, one later redacted expenditure matches exactly a campaign expense authorized by former Mayor Reed.

Federal ruling indicates former Atlanta mayor

A federal ruling indicates former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is under investigation on allegations of wire fraud.

Reeds said he believes the only path forward to "reclaiming" Atlanta from crime and violence is by "looking after each other." He alluded to his record of leadership as a former mayor. Reed has pledged he can stem rising crime because of a crime reduction during his tenure of 33%.

Reed said he decided to run for mayor after Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms stated she would not seek a second term.

One on One with former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed

Reed spoke with FOX 5's Morse Diggs to outline his plans to fight crime if were to be elected.

"I love this city and I love to people of this city and I look forward to leading it as the 61st mayor of Atlanta," Reed said Tuesday morning.

Supporters responded with chants of, "We're with Kasim."

Atlanta City Councilman Andre Dickens, Post 3 at-Large, officially filed Tuesday afternoon. (Photo: FOX 5 Atlanta)

Dickens said tackling the root causes of crime, generational poverty, will be most effective in reversing the crime spike. The two-tern city councilman also alluded to the perceived ethical shortcomings of his opponents.

"It's ironic that today's forecast called for rain and clouds. As the next mayor, I will remove the cloud of corruption that has hung over city hall for far too long," Dickens said.

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